Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard of Hollywood’s latest hit musical: La La Land. Whether it be Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone’s swirling Hollywood romance, the many grand, upbeat dance numbers, or the Oscars mix-up, the film has undoubtedly taken the world by storm. So far, La La Land has won six Oscars and seven Golden Globe. In just its opening weekend, it earned $22.2 million domestically and $17.7 million internationally. The musical is famously set in the city of Los Angeles, which is known for its sprawling urban cities, rich and illustrious cultural history, stunning beaches, endless sun, celebrities, and most of all – attractions to visit.

La La Land’s memorable opening scene features Century Freeway in a six-minute dance number during LA’s notoriously bad traffic jams. By a convenient twist of fate, Stone’s character, Mia, finds herself in Burbank’s SmokeHouse Restaurant, where she first discovers the flawless musical prowess of Gosling’s cheeky pianist, Sebastian. The pair meet again at a party in Griffith Park and exchange playful banter all the way down to Cathy’s Corner, where they famously tap-dance their way into each other’s hearts.

The following morning, Sebastian and Mia meet once again at the Warner Bros. lot’s coffee shop in Burbank where Mia works. Sebastian then whisks Mia away to Hermosa Beach’s The LightHouse Cafe, named “top citadel of jazz on the south coast” by The Los Angeles Mirror in 1950. Once the two bid each other adieu and depart, Sebastian waltzes down Hermosa Beach pier and serenades passersby with a soulful rendition of “City of Stars”. Sebastian and Mia enjoy each other’s company on a series of magical adventures, visiting the likes of Sarita’s in Pasadena’s Grand Central Market and Bunker Hill’s funicular railway Angels Flight (which is closed to the public, but opened for filming). The two also take romantic strolls through Griffith Observatory in Los Feliz’s Griffith Park, Colorado Street Bridge in Lower Arroyo Seco Park of Pasadena, and catch the classic film Rebel Without A Cause at Rialto Theater in South Pasadena, which gained a spot on the National Register of Historic Places for its “elaborate and eclectic architectural features”.

Now that you’ve been imbued with this vast array of knowledge, take off on a quick road trip around our county! Take a weekend or two, or even Spring Break, to relax and follow in the footsteps of Sebastian and Mia’s dynamic footsteps as you frolic through sunny LA!